A Green Glass Mosque Lamp with Gilt Decoration for the Ottoman Market, Venice, Circa 17th Century

of pale green glass, with globular body, stepped foot with high kick base, flaring straight walled neck, three small suspension loops, gilded throughout with split palmette, cintamani and fleur-de-lis motifs

In good condition, very minor surface wear and abrasion, some rubbing of gilding, intact, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1569 Macantonio Barbaro the Venetian Ambassador to the Sublime Porte wrote a report to the authorities in Venice about the requests of His Excellency Mehmet Bassa for '900 lamps for a mosque of his which he is having built; namely, 300 of the large shape which is annexed herewith; 300 of the long shape; and the pattern which I send enclosed herewith will serve merely to show the shape... His Excellency has also asked me, with the same insistence, for a large lamp, or lantern, such as are used in rooms... 'R. J. Charleston, 'The import of Western glass into Turkey: sixteenth-eighteenth centuries', The Connoisseur, May 1966.

Attached to the report were two drawings with annotations mentioning the request for 'part plain and part with latticinio decoration ('redeselli')' (ibid). The first of the drawings illustrates a mosque lamp of typical form, with depressed globular body and flaring neck. This relates to a group of lamps in the Topkapi Saray that are of Venetian origin and correspond in shape to the drawing, they are also decorated with the latticinio technique of inlaying opaque-white into the body of glass. Some of the lamps are decorated with lotus-flowers and diapers recalling Ottoman textile designs. It is evident that this decoration has been applied cold with the lamp being imported plain from Venice and decorated in Turkey. It is likely that the current lot falls into this category.